Campus News

UNILORIN inducts 89 new nurses as VC harps on professionalism, innovation

By Mustafa Abubakar and Tajudeen Babamale

Eighty-nine new graduands from the Department Nursing Sciences, University of Ilorin, were last Thursday (October 2, 2025) inducted into the profession, with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, urging them to uphold professionalism, discipline, and innovation as they step into the world of healthcare delivery.

The ceremony, which marked the 8th professional and induction admission ceremony of the Department, took place at the University Auditorium.

In his address, Prof. Egbewole reminded the graduands that they had been found worthy in both character and learning, charging them to demonstrate that they are truly products of the “Better by Far” University.

He encouraged the new nurses to embrace innovations, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), to improve healthcare delivery and professional growth. He further advised them to live by the ideals of the Nursing Anthem, which emphasises service to humanity, care, integrity, discipline, and compassion as sources of hope for the sick.

Making emphasis on the Nursing Anthem, the Vice Chancellor admonished the nurses to ensure that the messages of the professional anthem create positive changes in their lives, saying that they should avoid fatigue, anger, or discomfort interferance with patient care while also prioritising their personal health as they care for others.

In her  keynote lecture, titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI): Opportunities and Challenges for Future Nursing Care”, Dr Christiana Olanrewaju Sowunmi of the Babcock University, Ilishan, traced the history of nursing from Florence Nightingale to present-day complexities, noting that nurses remain the constant companions of patients from the beginning to the end of life.

She stressed that technology, especially AI, is reshaping nursing education, research, practice, and administration.

On opportunities, she highlighted how AI enhances simulations in nursing education, real-time data analysis in research, early detection of complications in practice, and efficiency in administration.

She, however, pointed out challenges, including workforce readiness, limited AI tools tailored for nursing, digital literacy gaps, and risks of dehumanising care.

Dr Sowunmi urged the new nurses to embrace ethical innovation, resilience, and continuous learning, saying that while AI is a powerful tool for efficiency, the compassion and empathy of nurses remain irreplaceable.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Prof. Biodun Sulyman Alabi, advised the graduands to strive for mastery, avoid mediocrity, and remain teachable in the face of new research breakthroughs.

He emphasised that patients must always be treated with dignity, compassion, and love, without bias of class, creed, or colour. He encouraged teamwork as the foundation of nursing practice.

Prof. Alabi expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor for his unprecedented support to the College, noting that the Department of Nursing Sciences has consistently recorded 100% success rate in national professional examinations conducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).

He announced that the 2024/2025 set, tagged AD Astra, produced 21 distinctions, equivalent to First Class honours in the University’s grading system, describing the feat as record breaking.

The Provost  revealed that since its establishment, the Department has graduated 397 nurses between 2015 and 2025, consolidating its reputation for excellence.

The Ag. Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Mr Ndagi Alhassan, congratulated the new graduates on their diligence and resilience.

Represented  by Mallam Umar Gambo‎, the Director, Registration Unit, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Abuja, the Registrar noted that the Bachelor of Nursing Science programme is designed to produce polyvalent nurses equipped with scientific knowledge, clinical competence, and professional intelligence for holistic health care delivery.

He encouraged the inductees to embrace continuous learning, seek mentorship, and pursue advanced qualifications.

He charged them to uphold the ethics of nursing by practising with humility, empathy, and honesty, stressing that these values will enable them to grow into seasoned professionals.

Representing the Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Prof. S. Abdullahi D. Yusuf, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Prof. A. Biliaminu, congratulated the graduands on their milestone achievement.

He commended their resilience and urged them to uphold excellence, dedication, and compassion as they begin their professional journey.

The induction ceremony also featured presentation of awards recognising excellence in leadership, character, academics, and research.

Present at the event were the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; Prof. Kolawole Wasiu, Dean of Clinical Sciences; Prof. Hannah O. Olawumi, Dean of Basic Clinical Sciences; Prof. Lukman A. Olayaki, Dean of Basic Medical Sciences; College Secretary, Mr Ahmed Rufai Sidique; College Librarian, Mr Usman A. Saliu; Finance Controller, Mr A. Olaniyan; Controller of Works, Engr S. Aloga; Prof. S.K. Olubiyi, Prof. E. E. Anyebe, Dr J. O. Aluko, Dr O. A. Onasoga, Mrs Halimat Olorooba, and Mrs Halimat Shittu as secretary, among others.